Corn popper



R. D. PARKS CORN POPPER I Jame 5, was. 1,457,354

Filed Feb. 5 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet l WITNESSES hi h? June 5, 1923. 1,457,354

R. D. PARKS CORN POPPER Filed Feb. 5, 1919 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 R n z P WITNESSES ATTORNEY.

R D. PARKS CORN POPPER Ji 5, was.

4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 5

ATTOR N EY INVENTO Farms WITNESSES June 5, 1923.

R. D. PARKS CORN POPPER Filed Feb. 5, 1-919 4 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR,

erZ P AT OR N EV Patented June 5, i923.

earner orrice.

ROBERT D. PARKS, OF LOHRVILLE, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO VJ-M-P MANUFACTURING 00.,

' OF LOHRVILLE, IOWA, A CORIORATION OF IOWA.

CORN POPIPER.

Application filed February 3, 1919. Serial No. 274,688.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, RO RT D. PARKS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lohrville, in the county of Calhoun and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Corn Popper, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention has reference to corn poppers of the portable cabinet type, the object of the invention being to provide a corn popper so constructed that it may be readily moved from place to place by an operator, and while being so moved the various instrumentalities employed in the corn-popping operation may be housed within the cabinet in compacted condition.

The invention comprises a cabinet mounted upon wheels and provided with legs which, in conjunction with the wheels, constitute the supporting means for the cabinet, permitting the cabinet to be pushed from place to place and facilitating the use of the cabinet on the streets or other like localities forthe production and sale of popr corn.

The invention contemplates the use, in connection with the cabinet, of a hinged work-table having a railing, and foldable onto the top ofthe body of the cabinet, with the railing dropping thereinto, and a popping kettle for the corn, accompanying the cabinet stored therein so that the whole ap paratus when ready for transportation has all the parts thoroughly housed.

The invention contemplates the employment of handles which may be pulled out or pushed in, and when pulled out serve both as means whereby the cabinet may be propelled and as a support for the hinged top or table when extended.

The invention also contemplates an arrangement of. a corn pan permitting it to receive and hold the popping kettle when the latter is not in use, to allow compacting the various instrumentalities for transpor tation.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of' the drawings, but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. 7

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cabinet showing the cover and other parts in the extended position and a wind-shield for the kettle also in position, the kettle itself be ing removed.

Figure :2 1s a longitudinal vertlcal SQCtlOIl through the cablnet on the line 22, Fig

ure 5 with the cover extended to constitute a shelf, and the kettle in place over'the burner.

Figure 3 is a section similar to Figure 2 but showing the parts in the retracted position.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the structure Figure 10 is a section on the line 1O1O of Figure 9.

Referring to the drawings there is showna casing 1 which may be made of sheet metal with framing strips where needed, the casing constituting a cabinet for containing various parts of the corn popper.

The cabinet is supported upon wheels 2 at one end and at the other end is provided with legs 3. The wheels and legs form a support-for the cabinet, the wheels 2 at one end permitting the ready propulsion of the cabinet from place to place, and the legs 3 at the other end preventing accidental displacement of the cabinet under ordinary working conditions.

lVithin the cabinet at the bottom there is lodged a. tank 4 for fuel, and connected to the tank is a filling plug 5, an air pump 6 v and a pressure gage 7, and furthermore the tank is provided with a drain cock 8. Within the cabinet near one end is a burner jacket or casing 9 which may be of cylindrical form,

as shown, and provided with a series of air holes or perforations 10. Within the casing 9 there is located a burner 11 connected by-a pipe 12 to the tank 4, said pipe extending v to near the bottom of the tank to utilize practically all of the fuel therein, which:

.shield may be spread sufficiently to embrace the upper end-of the casing 9 for storage purposes, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 8.

The main body of the cabinet is provided with a cover 19 connected by hinges 20 to that endof the cabinet at the top thereof re mote from the portion inwhich the burner and parts, associated therewith are located. Entering that end of the casing remote from the burner are side bars 21 of a handle structure having a yoke portion 22 provided with end legs 23 connected to the bars 21, thelegs 23 andbars 21 where oining being in turn connected by a cross rod 24 forming with the bars 21 a rigid handle structure. The bars 21 slide through guide plates 25 and guide straps 26 within the cabinet and spaced apart lengthwise of the bars 21, so that the handle structure may be moved into and out of the cabinet with the yoke 22 movable close up against the corresponding wall of the cabinet or to an appropriate distance therefrom. Each bar 21 carries a bolt 27 in position to engage the corresponding plate 25 to limit the outward movement of the handle. (See Figure 10.) It will be understood, of course, that the bolt 27 may be replaced'by any other appropriate stop means.

The inner end of each bar where passing I through the strap 26, has in its path a pin or screw 28, the strap being somewhat wider I than the width of the bar so that by raising the outer end of the bar 21 and thereby tilt- .ingsaid bar, the inner end may be brought into abutment with the corresponding screw 28, thus, so long as the bar is so tilted, preventing the pushing of it into the cabinet,

asshown in Figure 9.

The height of the yoke 22 is such as to constitute a support for the top or table 19 when extended. The bars 21 are arranged on opposite sides of a portion of the interior of-the cabinet shaped to receive a pan 29 designed to receive popcorn. This pan, which may be of generally rectangular shape and slightly tapering toward the bottom, is open at the top where it has a marginaloutstand ing flange 29 and is of a height to hang from the topportion of the cabinet and reach close to a transverse floor or platform 30 above the tank 1 and below and supporting the casing 9. (See Figure 3.) The pan 29 is covered by the top or table 19 when the latter is closed. WVithin the pan 29 is-a screen partition 31 forming a false bottom, and the sides of the pan have matching perforations 32 for the reception of rods 33 positioned to support-the screen above the bottom of the pan whereby unpopped corn contained in the mass of popcornsifts out therefrom and drops to the bottom of the pan so that the popcorn is maintained clean. l/Vhen it is desired to store the parts the screen 31 and rods33 may be removed.

Below the portion of the cabinet containing the. pan 29 there is located a drawer 34 movable intoandout of the cabinet in the usual manner, and this drawer forms a convenient receptacle for the screen 31 and rods 33 when not in the pan 29. The drawer may also serve as a receptacle for various implements used in conjunction with the cabinet.

There is also provideda'popping kettle 35 with exterior lugs 36 adapted to engage the ring 14 and support the kettle over the burner. The kettle is provided with ahandle 37 whereby it may be manipulated and with stirring means, not shown, which may be actuated by a crank-shaft 38, which shaft, when the kettle is in place over the burner, is readily accessible to an operator.

The kettle structure is not herein shown in detail. nor claimed, since it formsthe subject matter of another application for Letters Patenuserial Number'27 h687', filed by me February 3, 1919. The pan 29 is provided near one corner with a recess 39 through which the handle 37 may extend,

' and a cover 39 is provided for the recess-39 sothat the latter may be closed when the pan is used for otherpurposes than storingv the kettle. This'is for the purpose of storage, thekettle 35 beingthen placed within 7 the pan-29, after the screen 31 has been removed and put in the drawer 34. (See Fig; 3.) The handle 37 with the crank shaft 38 then extends through the recess 39' into the compartment containing the casing 9 surrounding the burner 11. (See Figure 6.); Thewindshield 17 is removed from within the casing 9 and expanded so as'to he slipped over the upper endof-the casing so as to be frictionally held in place andout of the way of other parts. The cover or table 19 is turned about itshinge connections 20 with the cabinet until'in, covcringrelation to the entire top of the cabinet. Ifit be desired to simply. store the cabinet without moving it,

the handle structure is pushed into the cabi- .et by depressing the yoke end, thereby lifting the bars 21 in such manner as to clear the stop pins or screws 28. If, however, it be desired to move the cabinet to another place the handle member is allowed to remain in the projected position, and by lifting on the handle member, thus bringing the inner ends of the bars 21 into abutment with net to the limit of its travel, the table or cover 19 is opened until it rests upon the yoke portion of the handle as indicated in Figures 1 and 2. moved from embracing relation to the easing 9 and then placed within the upper end of the casing to rest on the portions 16 of the brackets 15. from the pan 29 and inserted in the ring 14 which engages the lug 36 on the kettle thereby supporting the kettle over the burner. If there bev no air pressurein the tank 4, a suit-able pressure is established by means of the pump 6, such. pressure being indicated on the dial of the pressure page 7.

In operating the corn popper, a small quantity of grease is placed in the kettle, such grease consisting of lard or some lard substitute, and the kettle is set over the burner, which of course has been pre viously lighted. An appropriate quantity of unpopped corn, say about a cupful for a ten quart kettle, is poured into the kettle into the lard already melted therein. On actuating the stirrer, the unpoppe d corn becomes thoroughly covered with the grease, which latter serves to harden or toughen the outer skin of the corn kernels so that the kernels will swell to a greater extent than usual, and when rupturingtakes places, the kernels expand to a greater extent than customary, wherefore, there is produced a larger and more fluffy popped corn than is usual. Popcorn contains volatile oils which in the ordinary process of popping escape to the air and are lost. With the corn popper described, wherein the popping kettle is a closed kettle, the volatile oils do not escape to the atmosphere but are retained in the kettle and reabsorbed into the poppet corn; thus greatly adding tothe pleasant flavor of the corn. The increased volume of the popped corn is evidenced by the fact that an ordinary cupitul of ungopped corn, when popped, will fill a ten quart kettle. The lard or othe grease is so thoroughly reabsorbed that it will give no evidence of its presence when the corn is placed in paper bags, which is the usual method of packing, such paper bags or other receptacles being readily stored, temporarily, on that portion The windshield 17 is re-.

The kettle 35 is removed.

of the table or cover provided with the railing 40.

1Vhat is claimed is 1..In a corn popper, a cabinet with a hurner-containing portion at the top, and hav ing a'space at the top adjoining the burnercontaining portion, said space adapted to receive a pan for popped corn, and a cover. for the cabinet movable to uncover thetop of the cabinet to obtain access to said burnercontaining portion and said space and provided with a railing of a size, shape and position to house in the burner-containing portion of the cabinet when the cover is closed.

a corn popper, a cabinet with a burner-containing portion at the top, and a the cabinet containing the burner when the cover is closed. 1

3. A corn popper structure including a cabinet, a burner therein, a jacket for the burner, a popping kettle, and a support for the kettle carried by the jacket. and arranged within the latter, said support comprising a ring of a size to support the kettle in operative 'relationto the burner and depend ing within the jacket, and brackets supporting and spacing the ring from the jacket in interior concentric relation thereto.

4. A corn popper comprising a cabinet with a burner therein, a casing for the burner, a popping'kettle depending within the casing, a support in the casing for the kettle, and a windshield encircling the. ket tle when on the support and extending within the casing, and expansible to embrace and slip over the outside of the casing for storage purposes.

5. A. corn popper comprising a cabinet with a burner therein, a casing surrounding the burner, a popping kettle, a support for the kettle carried by the. casing, and a windshield for encircling the kettle when on the support and extending within the casing so as to rest upon the support, and comprising a cylindrical member having its circumferential continuity broken and thereby expansible to embrace and slip over the outside of the casing for storage.

6. A corn popper structure including a cabinet, a burner therein, a casing for the burner, a popping kettle, anda support for the kettle carried by the casing and arranged within the latter, said support comprising a ring of asize to support the kettie in operative relation to the hig er and depending within the casing, brackets supresting on said support and extending above porting and spacing the ring from the easing in interior concentric relation thereto,

and a windshield encircling thekettle when on the support and resting upon said brackets.

"7. A" corn popper comprising a cabinet with' abu'rner therein, a casing for the burner, a popping kettle depending within thecasing, a support in the casing for the kettle, and'a windshield encircling the kettle' when on the support, said windshield the top of the casing and also above the top of the cabinet. e

8. A corn popper comprising a cabinet with a burner therein, a casing for the .7 burner, a popping kettle, a suppo'rtin the casing for" the kettle, and-a windshield of less diameter than the' casing supported within-the latter around that portion of the kettle which depends within the casing, said windshield extending aboveflthe top of the 1 casing and also above the top of the cabinet.

:9; In a corn popper, a pan of a size to store a kettle when not in use and provided witharecess for passing the handle of the kettle, and a cover for the reces movable into and" out of closing relation to said recess, whereby the recess may be opened to permitthe passage of the kettle handle when placing the kettle in the pan, and'said re-' cess may be closed to complete the conti: nuity'of'th'e' pan when the kettle is removed.

101111 acorn popper, a cabinet having a platform, a" pan havingan open top supported "from the top of the cabinet and reaching close to the platform, a casing upported on sai'dplat'form at one side of the Y pan and extending to the top of. the cabinet, a burner withi'nthe casing, a support for a kettlemounte'd'above the burner within the vcasing,'but not projecting above the latter,

said casing" and said 'pan not projecting above the top of the cabinet, and a cover for closing theentire. top of the cabinet includin -the pan and casing. i

corn popper comprising a cabinet, a support-for a "kettle located at. one end of the cabinet,-ancl a pan located at theother end ofthe' cabinet, said pan having.

an open topbeing of a size to house and contain the kettle whenthe latter i not in" 12. A corn popper comprising acabinet,v

and a pan located at one end of the cabinet, within the samelandhaving'its top opening out at 'thevtop of the cabinet, and a hinged cover for the cabinet for closing the pan and movable toan open position at one side of the pan'and then constituting a working table in substantially the same horizontal plane as the top of the cabinet,- said corn popper being provided with supporting means including wheels, and a propelling handle movable into and out of the cabinet and when extended constituting a support for the'open'cover. v

13. A corn popper comprising avehicle including a cabinet,a burner and kettle support within the cablnet, a hinged coverfor the cabinet for overlying the burner and.

. movable to'an open position at one side of the cabinet to constitute a work table, said cover having a railing which is housed-withtestimony, that I claim the foregoing hereto aflixed my signa- 

